MOSCOW: A video circulating on social media of Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that Ukraine joining NATO would make a nuclear conflict more likely was filmed in February 2022 before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Reuters news agency reported.
The clip, originally filmed in February 2022, resurfaced with captions suggesting it was a new statement made in February 2024, just prior to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The video in question captures Putin’s remarks during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow. In the video, Putin discusses the potential consequences of Ukraine joining NATO, emphasizing the heightened risk of conflict and invoking the NATO principle of collective defence under Article 5.
English subtitles provided by sources such as the Daily Mail clearly indicate Putin’s statements from February 2022, where he states, “You won’t even have time to blink your eye when you execute Article 5.” “There will be no winners. And you will be pulled into this conflict against your will.”
Reuters had previously reported on February 7, 2022, about Putin’s meeting with Macron and his statements regarding Ukraine and NATO. The video was originally produced and published shortly thereafter, clearly establishing its origin well before the current conflict in Ukraine.
The video’s misrepresentation as recent is misleading, as confirmed by multiple credible sources and historical records. Putin’s remarks were made in the context of diplomatic discussions in early 2022, not in response to any developments in February 2024.
English subtitles show Putin saying, “Do you understand it or not, that if Ukraine joins NATO and attempts to bring Crimea back by military means, the European nations will be automatically pulled into a war conflict with Russia?”
He continues, “Of course NATO and Russia’s potentials are incomparable. We understand it. But we also understand that Russia is one of the leading nuclear states and by some modern components it even outperforms many. There will be no winners. And you will be pulled into this conflict against your will.”
Putin then says, “You won’t even have time to blink your eye when you execute Article 5. Mr. President (Macron), of course, doesn’t want this. And I don’t want it. And I don’t want it….which is why he is here, torturing me for six straight hours.”
Misleading Context: The video circulating online suggesting recent remarks by Vladimir Putin about Ukraine joining NATO actually dates back to February 2022, preceding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is important to verify the timing and context of such videos before drawing conclusions.
